The budget for Bong Joon-ho and Robert Pattinson’s Mickey 17 is notable, making it one of the riskiest theatrical releases of the year. The new sci-fi dark comedy film is one of 2025’s most-anticipated movies, primarily due to the aforementioned names. Bong Joon-ho was the mastermind behind Parasite, the critically acclaimed Best Picture winner of the 2020 Academy Awards, making it all the more exciting that he’s paired up with Robert Pattinson, one of the most thrilling movie stars in the business, for his next project.
Mickey 17’s story comes from a novel titled Mickey7, which follows a man named Mickey who, in a distant future, is employed as an “Expendable.” The job forces him to be used for dangerous missions, commonly leading to his death and subsequent regeneration. It’s a costly line of business for one’s emotional well-being, but matters become even worse once Mickey is regenerated prior to his death, leading to two versions of himself being alive at the same time.
Bong Joon-ho Confirmed Mickey 17’s Budget Is $118 Million, Not $150 Million As Previously Reported
$118 Million Is Still A Sizable Budget For A Hollywood Film
In a recent report from Hankook Ilbo, a South Korean newspaper, it was revealed by Bong Joon-ho that the budget for Mickey 17 was $118 million. While still an expensive production, this comes in significantly lower than previous reports that the budget would be $150 million. The 55-year-old filmmaker explains, “100 million dollars is considered a big movie in the US. By Hollywood standards, (‘Mickey 17’) is somewhere between a medium-sized and a blockbuster.” This would explain Mickey 17’s impressive cast, led by Pattinson, Mark Ruffalo, Steven Yeun, Naomi Ackie, Toni Collette, and more.
Bong Joon-ho is primarily known for his Korean film productions, with highly celebrated entries like Memories of Murder and The Host. However, he’s not new to Hollywood co-productions, with this being his third. His previous films include Snowpiercer, the 2014 sci-fi movie that starred Chris Evans, and Okja, his Netflix-released sci-fi/fantasy movie. Mickey 17’s budget is still his biggest yet by a large margin, and it will be expected to result in his most immense box office yield. This creates a distinct challenge for Warner Bros. and the new film.
Mickey 17’s Budget Still Sets Lofty Box Office Goals
The Movie Will Have To Make Nearly $300 Million To Profit
Mickey 17’s release date is imminent, and the $118 million budget sets a substantial box office goal for the title. Making $118 million is certainly possible, but films need significantly more than just their reported budget to begin making a profit. First, the advertising cost isn’t accounted for in the initial budget. Second, the movie theaters’ cuts and foreign release costs add up. Mickey 17 will have to make closer to $250-300 million to even begin profiting, going by the general equation. It’s impossible to know the exact numbers, but this is a fair estimate.
Mickey 17 will have to make closer to $250-300 million to even begin profiting
In 2024, only 23 movies grossed over $300 million at the box office, and nearly all of them were connected to a larger franchise or a recognizable creative property. Movies like Inside Out and Deadpool & Wolverine connect to established film series, but films like Wicked and It Ends with Us were adapted from stories with enormous audience pools. Mickey 17 is adapted from a book, but Ashton Edward’s original text has only been out for a few years and hasn’t accumulated the notoriety to bring many people to the box office.
Mickey 17 Will Likely Struggle To Be A Box Office Success
$300 Million Is A Steep Hill To Climb For Any Movie
Image via Warner Bros.
Mickey 17 is riding on a few main factors: Robert Pattinson, it being the Parasite follow-up, and its potential for critical acclaim. If the movie continues to be well-reviewed and word of mouth tells the tale of an exciting new Pattinson film (his first starring role since Batman), there’s a possibility it could end up being a successful release in a month of limited competition. That said, it’s going to be a difficult road to the success this movie would need in order to profit. Parasite is by far the director’s most successful release, with $250 million worldwide.
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The international factor is going to be significant for Mickey 17. The movie was already released in South Korea and accumulated a $9 million international gross just before its release in the United States. The domestic box office is going to be the major question mark, as Mickey 17 hasn’t been tracking well in box office predictions. Bong Joon-ho’s movie is going to need legs to meet its goal, as it likely won’t have the most promising opening weekend in America.
Mickey 17
- Release Date
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March 25, 2025